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2009-06-11 Home Front: Politix

Visiting Hotair.com gets you pinged by CIA

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Posted by Silentbrick 2009-06-11 00:00|| || Front Page|| [336077 views ] Top

#1 That's weird...
What about the left sites?

Posted by 3dc 2009-06-11 00:07|| 2009-06-11 00:07|| Front Page Top

#2 ping could be a "web bug" you picked up elsewhere.

Posted by OldSpook 2009-06-11 00:09|| 2009-06-11 00:09|| Front Page Top

#3 That's entirely possible OldSpook, I don't know a great deal about malware, etc. So far though it's the only place that ping does occur. And since I rarely visit lefty sites, I haven't really checked any.

I have seen quite a few interesting pings out of China and former eastern bloc countries though, which I assume to be coming from spambots or things.

The funniest so far are the People's Government Office of Mang Mountain District, New York Public Schools, Princess Royal Barracks and Swiss Federal Post and Telephone.

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2009-06-11 00:36|| 2009-06-11 00:36|| Front Page Top

#4 Just making reservations for the re-education centers and labor camps is all.

Nothing to worry about. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Have a nice day.

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-06-11 01:05|| 2009-06-11 01:05|| Front Page Top

#5 The following websites are also aboard the server of the IP you just posted:

bbs.tpxz.com
cia.gov
dafunks.net
dragonraiser.com
elktc.org
hub.n00bstories.com
military-server.net
rezistor.com
srsbzns.com
vene.vunet.org
www.canalinformatica.net
www.cia.gov
www.odci.gov
www.xiaochuncnjp.com

Now, as a general guideline, nothing, as in zero should be pinging anything from any server unless the server is running automatic scripts with or without the knowledge of the server master/owner.

Pinging serves no useful purpose aboard a web server once it is deployed. Pinging is used by some automated malware as a precursor to check for open ports and potential vectors of attack by some classes of bots.

In fact pinging is hardly used in modern hacking tools. It is possible to check connectivity and for open ports to any internet node without pinging it at all.

Posted by badanov 2009-06-11 01:16|| http://www.freefirezone.org]">[http://www.freefirezone.org] 2009-06-11 01:16|| Front Page Top

#6 Addendum: The server at the IP posted is running an unknown distro of Linux

Posted by badanov 2009-06-11 01:18|| http://www.freefirezone.org]">[http://www.freefirezone.org] 2009-06-11 01:18|| Front Page Top

#7 Is that really a "ping" or are they hosting ads by those organizations and you are seeing traffic relevant to those ads?

I will check it out soon with some real network tools.

Posted by crosspatch 2009-06-11 02:57|| 2009-06-11 02:57|| Front Page Top

#8 You're already way out beyond the things I know. The software lists IP's that attempt access to my computer as I move around on the web. That's as much as I know about it really.

I suspect that people are simply using such names to make people think it's something legit or the like, hoping to avoid getting blocked or noticed.

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2009-06-11 03:35|| 2009-06-11 03:35|| Front Page Top

#9 On a hunch, I went to the cia web site; it is https://www.cia.gov. Note the s in https. Everyone else here may already have known that, but I didn't and was heartened to see it.

Does the https site ping as well? Maybe we should let them know if it does; they might have malware on their server.

I am reluctant now to go to http://www.cia.gov to cross check. The famous (mis)quote 'One can't be too rich, too thin, have too much ammo, or be too cautious where you go on the web' applies, methinks. I thought .gov was restricted.

The original quote is attributed mainly to 'Babe' Paley. The Duchess of Windsor and Gloria Vanderbilt are also reputed to have used the phrase. FYI, if you care.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2009-06-11 06:41|| 2009-06-11 06:41|| Front Page Top

#10 My guess is that being part of the federal government the CIA prolly has access to network tools so good, they would bring tears to your eyes...

Posted by badanov 2009-06-11 07:44|| http://www.freefirezone.org]">[http://www.freefirezone.org] 2009-06-11 07:44|| Front Page Top

#11 Silent, do you use a hardware firewall, such as that comes with a WiFi router? It seems to eliminate the intrusions/garbage getting to the computer. I also run software firewalls, but that comes w/ the antivirus programs. I only see pings/attempted intrusions when on dialup (mostly from the ISP) when there is no HW firewall.

Posted by ed 2009-06-11 08:42|| 2009-06-11 08:42|| Front Page Top

#12 I haven't been to Hotair lately and I got pinged. Spend a lot of time elsewhere and at the Burg. My spyware was removed and the modem blocked but I have dial-up. I contacted the server and they are scanning to find the problem.

Posted by Lumpy Elmoluck5091 2009-06-11 08:57|| 2009-06-11 08:57|| Front Page Top

#13 I always go to conservative and rightwing blogs, conspiracy online radios, and to pr0n websites.
Does this mean the CIA is watching me masturbate?
That would be very disturbing, and, yet, strangely arousing.

Posted by anonymous5089 2009-06-11 10:21|| 2009-06-11 10:21|| Front Page Top

#14 badanov: The truly strange thing about technology is that it's there when you don't expect it to be, and not there where it should obviously be.

The latest incarnation is the "CSI Effect" where, because of a TV show, police departments all over the country were assumed to have high tech laboratories instead of what they actually had, two guys in what used to be a restroom, with some file cabinets, a fax machine and a microscope.

If I was getting pinged by cia.gov, the first thing I would guess is that somebody there with an Internet connection on his unclassified only PC, had gotten infected with a rootkit while surfing for p*rn.

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-06-11 10:24|| 2009-06-11 10:24|| Front Page Top

#15 For anonymous5089: Playboy Girls of the CIA (NSFW, Duh!)

Posted by ed 2009-06-11 10:58|| 2009-06-11 10:58|| Front Page Top

#16 Now there goes the thread.

Posted by CrazyFool 2009-06-11 11:23|| 2009-06-11 11:23|| Front Page Top

#17 If, at some point during your life, you have not been interviewed by a federal agent of some type (FBI, ATF, NCIS, etc.) you really aren't applying youself and need to try harder.

Posted by GORT 2009-06-11 13:09|| 2009-06-11 13:09|| Front Page Top

#18 While I haven't been interviewed, I HAVE already passed 2 background checks to buy rifles through the DCM programs and of course, passed my background check for my carry permit. Heck, it was fun going to the police station and asking to be fingerprinted for my paperwork on the first DCM rifle I bought. The officer who fingerprinted me told me that the best ink remover was moonshine but the chief refused to let them use it.

So no, I'm not worried about being noticed:p It's just funny to see these sorts of things.

Posted by Silentbrick">Silentbrick 2009-06-11 17:35|| 2009-06-11 17:35|| Front Page Top

#19 I can let ya have some silentbrick.

Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues 2009-06-11 19:08|| 2009-06-11 19:08|| Front Page Top

#20 Admit it Silentbrick, this is all just an elaborate setup to avoid explaining the Russian pr0n bill on the credit card. :p

Posted by Laurence of the Rats">Laurence of the Rats 2009-06-11 23:36|| 2009-06-11 23:36|| Front Page Top

23:42 trailing wife
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23:18 Procopius2k
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22:12 European Conservative
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